Taiwan’s high-net-worth population is projected to reach 124,000 this year, with combined assets of NT$46.1 trillion (US$1.47 trillion), highlighting growing opportunities for private banking, a survey released yesterday by KPMG Taiwan and E.Sun Commercial Bank Ltd (玉山銀行) showed.
The large number of people holding more than NT$100 million in investable assets reflects rapid wealth accumulation amid strong equity markets and corporate earnings, the survey said.
“The rapid buildup of private wealth is reshaping demand for cross-border investing and institutionalized succession planning,” E.Sun Financial Holding Co (玉山金控) chairman Joseph Huang (黃男州) told a news conference in Taipei.
Photo: CNA
Amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty, more than 70 percent of wealthy Taiwanese have already allocated assets overseas, signaling a shift toward diversification and capital preservation, the companies said.
Offshore exposure across equities, fixed income and alternative assets has become a core allocation strategy.
However, global investing brings complexity, with more than half of respondents citing unfamiliarity with foreign legal and tax regimes as the biggest obstacle, the companies said.
This has boosted demand for integrated advisory services combining portfolio management with legal, tax and governance expertise, they said.
Affluent clients increasingly prioritize risk management and structural planning alongside returns, they said.
Succession planning is also evolving, the survey showed.
While discussions about inheritance were often postponed in the past, 85 percent of respondents said they have completed or initiated wealth transfer plans, it showed.
The shift reflects a move from “passive inheritance” to “active succession,” with founders taking a deliberate role in governance and long-term stewardship, the companies said.
Generational differences remain a challenge, as first-generation wealth creators express concern over the next generation’s readiness, citing communication gaps and diverging values, they said.
Demand now extends beyond traditional tools such as equity restructuring, insurance and trusts, the companies said.
Wealthy families are exploring formal governance frameworks, including family constitutions and advisory boards, to safeguard financial capital and cohesion, they said.
Meanwhile, interest in family offices is rising, with more than 60 percent of surveyed clients open to or planning adoption, they added.
Regulatory support is reinforcing the trend as the Financial Supervisory Commission (金管會) has included family offices in its push to develop Taiwan as an Asian asset management hub.
E.Sun Bank said it is expanding family office services with proactive advisory models and one-stop integration across its financial units, aiming to institutionalize governance and facilitate cross-generational wealth transfer.
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